Last Chance for a Canoe and Kayak outing to Remove Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area
Saturday August 9 1p.m., (probably 2-3 hours)
North Farms Road entrance
Volunteers have spent approximately 65 hours on the lake removing invasive water chestnut plants and it has been significantly removed for this year.This will probably be a fairly relaxed outing strategically canoeing/kayaking around the lake looking for any plants that have been missed.
The removal of water chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake has been a major
priority of the BBC ( as well as the Audubon Society, the Conte Refuge and others)
over the past two years as this invasive species has the potential to cover the entire
lake. A large infestation of water chestnut at the eastern end of the lake was
removed by hand in 2006. This area showed notable improvement in 2007,
but a considerable effort was still required to uproot the remaining plants.
A previously unrecognized patch of water chestnut toward the lake’s western
end was also found and removed last summer. This summer, we will follow up
on both areas with the expectation that, with diligence, we can eventually eradicate the
water-chestnut plague. As this activity takes place on the lake, we will
need canoes and kayaks to get us where we need to go, as well as large
plastic buckets to collect the plants. PFDs (personal flotation
devices) are required. If you can contribute a boat/seat,let us know.
Children are welcome and can get to enjoy this as a casual boating adventure.
For further information: 584-4176.
